Tomato carton

ABSTRACT

A tray-like carton including a longitudinally extending bottom wall provided with upstanding transverse end panels and including an upstanding longitudinal partition secured to and extending between the end walls. The partition includes longitudinally spaced transversely extending and upwardly opening slots formed therein whose lower ends terminate above the lower marginal edge of the partition. A plurality of endless flexible strap members are provided for use with the carton and may have equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through corresponding slots in the partition with the remaining portions of each band disposed on opposite sides of the partition defining article encircling loops for encircling globular produce and retaining the produce in position on the bottom wall on opposite sides of the partition.

[4 1 Jan. 21, 1975.

United States Patent 91 McHan ABSTRACT gitudinally extending TOMATO CARTON [76] Inventor: Thaddeus D. McHan, PO. Drawer M, lmmokalee, Fla. 33934 Jan. 10, 1973 A tray-like carton including a lon bottom wall provided with upsta [22] Filed:

nding transverse end panels and including an upstanding longitudinal partition secured to and extending between the end walls. The partition includes longitudinal] verse] 21 Appl. N5; 322,54

y spaced transy extending and upwardly opening slots formed therein whose lower. ends terminate above the lower marginal edge of the partition. A plurality of endless flexible strap members are provided for use with the carton and may have equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed 76 23N 5 91 2. 5 t 6 B WW M26 Hm m0 w W002 mh c "m We "S 1 m mm e .mF UN 55 through corresponding slots in the partition with the rema ining por- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tions of each band disposed on opposite sides of the partition defining article encirclin g loops for encirng the produce in 1,136,505 4/1915 Calahan..........,.'......... 2,112,433 2,971,639

217/28 229/15 cling globular produce and ret'atnr 3/1938 Boeye 2/1961 206/4534 position on the bottom wall on opposite sides of the partition. I

Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Douglas B. Farrow Clarence A. OBrien; 9 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Attorney, Agent, or Firm Harvey B. Jacobson ATENTEI] JANE I I975 SHEEI 10F 2 FIJENTEB JANZ 1 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 Fig. 7

Fig.3

TOMATO CARTON This invention relates to packaging and more specifically to a carton specifically designed for packaging 2,971,639, dated Feb. 14, 1961. The basic improvement of the instant invention over my previous tomato carton resides in the provision of transversely extending and upwardly opening slots in the center longitudinal partition of the carton, which slots enable the use of endless flexible bands having equidistant intermediate portions thereof twisted together and passed through the slots with the remaining end portions of the bands disposed on opposite sides of the partition encircled aboutproduce to be secured within the carton. In this manner, an outercover (such as that disclosed in my prior patent) may or may not be used and is not required to maintain articles of produce within the carton.

In addition, the construction of the instant invention differs from the tomato carton in my prior patent in a manner such as to enablethe carton to be readily formed as a one-piece construction by molding processes for folding into the final configuration of the carton,-the aforementioned flexible bands also serving to maintain the carton in a folded operative condition.

The main object of this invention is to provide a useful carton and method of making the same whereby various articles may be packaged in an attractive manner. I 7

Another object of this invention, in accordance'with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a carton which may be readily formed out of one piece of sheet material and subsequently .folded, by a single folding step, into the final shape of the carton.

Another important object of this invention is to pro- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bail type handle which may be utilized in conjunction with either the corrugated cardboard or polystyrene forms of the in- V vention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a first form of carton constructed in accordance with the present invention. The carton 10 includes a bottom wall 12 including upstanding generally parallel opposite end walls 14 and 16. The end walls 14 and 16 are interconnected by means of an upstanding longitudinally extending center partition 18 extending and secured therebetween and also secured to the bottom wall 12. The end walls 14 and 16 include reinforced laterally outwardly projectingopposite side flanges 20 as well as upper marginal edge portion horizontally outwardly directed reinforced flanges 22. Also, the opposite side marginal edges of the bottom 12 include upturned opposite side flanges 24.

An inverted generally channel shaped transparent cover 26 is provided and includes opposite side flanges 28 and 30 interconnected at their upper marginal edge portions by means of a horizontal bight portion 32 extending therebetween and formed integrally therewith. The end edges of the cover 26 overlap the flanges 20 I and 22 are secured thereto in any convenient manner vide a carton which is particularly well adapted to I package delicate produce such as tomatoes.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumeratcd herein is to provide a tomato carton which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of carton constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

' tingtabs and openings whereby the partition 18 is securely supported between the end walls 14 and 16, suitable adhesive (not shown) also being usable to fasten the partition 18 between the end walls 14 and 16;

However, as may be seen from FIG. 7 of the drawings, the partition 18 is formed in one piece and is folded along its longitudinal centerline as at 36. In addition, each end wall consists of a pair of end wall sections A and B secured to the corresponding ends of the partition 18. In addition, the bottom wall 12 consists of a pair of bottom wall sections C and D secured to and extending along the corresponding side edge portions of the partition 18. Of course, the flanges 24 comprise integral portions of the bottom wall sections C and D and the flanges 20 comprise integral portions of the end wall sections A and B. i

Although the end walls 14 and 16 and the bottom wall 12 may be formed of the various sections A, B, C and D, the end walls 14 and 16 may be formed integrally with the bottom wall 12 so that each of the end walls 14 and 16 as well as the bottom'wall 12 is of onepiece construction.

In any event, the partition 18 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending and upwardly opening slots 40 through which the twisted mid portions'42 of a plurality of elongated endless'flexible straps 44 may be passed with the opposite ends of the twisted straps forming loops 46 to encircle globular produce such as the tomatoes 48 illustrated in FIG. 5. Once the straps 44 have been engaged with pairs of the tomatoes 48, the tomatoes may be placed within the carton prior to securement of the cover 26 there over with the twisted portions 42 of the straps 44 extending through the slots 40. In this manner, the tomatoes will be held firmly in position within the carton 10. Also, an elongated flexible bail type handle 50 may be provided and includes T-shaped end portions 52. The end portions of the handle 50 pass through apertures 54 formed in the flanges 22 and then through the narrow portions 56 of keyhole openings 58 formed in the end walls 14 and 16 with the T-shaped heads or end portions 52 held captive against the inner surfaces of the end walls 14 and 16 defining the upward extremities of the narrow portions 56 of the openings 58.

With attention invited now more specifically to FIG. 6 of the drawings there may be seen a performed blank referred to in general by the reference numeral 60 and which may be constructed of polystyrene by any suitable molding processes. The blank 60 comprises a main panel 62 including opposite side halves disposed at approximately 90 relative to each other and joined together along a foldline 64. Each half of the panel 62 includes upstanding outwardly directed end wall panels 66 and bottom wall panels 68. In addition, the bottom wall panels 68 include upstanding outer edge reinforc- 9 ing flanges 70 and the end wall panels 66 include outer edge outturned reinforcing flanges 72. Also, the flanges 72 are formed integrally with relatively angulated top wall flanges 74 extending along the upper marginal edge portions of theend wall flange 66. The panel 62 is provided with slots 76 extending transversely thereof and spaced longitudinally therealong and the opposite end portions of each slot 76 disposed on opposite sides of the fold line 64 are registrable with each other when the panel sections on opposite sides of the fold line 64 are folded toward each other so that the sides of the opposite side panel sections remote from the sides thereof from which the bottom wall flanges 68 project are disposed in closely juxtaposed and generally parallel relation. In .this manner, the panel 62 may be folded into a carton of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 and after the tomatoes 48 have been secured in position within the folded carton by means of the straps 44 the straps 44 will not only serve to maintain the tomatoes 48 within the carton, but also serve to maintain the panel 62 in its folded carton-defining configuration. Of course, the end wall flanges 66 include notches 76 whereby to form keyhold openings similar to the keyhole openings 58 of the carton 10 when the panel 62 is folded into its carton-defining configuration. Accordingly, it may be readily appreciated that the cover 26 1. A carton for packaging produce or other articles, said carton comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and projecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, the opposite ends of said panel sections each including a generally right-angled end flange extending along substantially the full length of the corresponding panel section end edge and of a width at least generally equal to the width of the corresponding side flange, said end flanges also projecting outwardly from said corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing said panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other and said end flanges at each end of said panel disposed in substantially coplanar relation, whereby each pair of end flanges at an end of said panel define an end wall for said carton and said panel sections, exclusive of said side and end flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said carton between said end walls and said side flanges define bottom sections of said carton on opposite sides of said partition ex tending between said end walls, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar.

2. The combination of claim I wherein said partition includes at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles on said'side sections of said bottom between said end panels and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sides of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a downwardly opening elongated and inverted generally channel shaped cover downwardly telescoped over said carton with the end walls thereof received between corresponding end portions of the opposite sides of said cover and the opposite ends of the bight portion of said cover overlying the upper marginal edge portions of said end walls.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises a cardboard panel.

6. In combination, an article support comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally rightangled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and projecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing the panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said bottom sections, a closed flexibleband having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles in position on said bottom sections on opposite sides of, said partition and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sides of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line. l l= l 

1. A carton for packaging produce or other articles, said carton comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and proJecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, the opposite ends of said panel sections each including a generally right-angled end flange extending along substantially the full length of the corresponding panel section end edge and of a width at least generally equal to the width of the corresponding side flange, said end flanges also projecting outwardly from said corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing said panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other and said end flanges at each end of said panel disposed in substantially coplanar relation, whereby each pair of end flanges at an end of said panel define an end wall for said carton and said panel sections, exclusive of said side and end flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said carton between said end walls and said side flanges define bottom sections of said carton on opposite sides of said partition extending between said end walls, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said partition includes at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections.
 3. The combination of claim 2 including a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles on said side sections of said bottom between said end panels and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sides of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including a downwardly opening elongated and inverted generally channel shaped cover downwardly telescoped over said carton with the end walls thereof received between corresponding end portions of the opposite sides of said cover and the opposite ends of the bight portion of said cover overlying the upper marginal edge portions of said end walls.
 5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises a cardboard panel.
 6. In combination, an article support comprising a panel of generally rectangular configuration including opposite side generally planar panel sections joined along a center fold line extending longitudinally of said panel, the side marginal edges of said panel sections remote from said fold line including generally right-angled side flanges generally paralleling and equally spaced from said fold line and projecting outwardly of one pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections, said panel being foldable along said fold line to swing the panel sections into parallel closely juxtaposed relation with the other pair of corresponding sides of said panel sections opposing each other, whereby said panel sections, exclusive of said side flanges define a double thickness upstanding partition extending centrally lengthwise along said support and said side flanges define bottom sections of said support on opposite sides of said partition, said bottom sections being substantially coplanar, said partition including at least one upstanding transverse slot formed therein opening upwardly through the upper marginal edge of said partition, the lower end of said slot terminating above said bottom sections, a closed flexible band having equidistant spaced portions thereof twisted together and passed through said slot with the remaining portions of said band disposed on opposite sides of said partition defining article encircling loops for retaining articles in position on said bottom sections on opposite sides of said partition and drawing said articles together and into contact with the remote sideS of said panel sections to maintain said panel fully folded along said fold line. 